Postmark and canceling stamp



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARCUS I?. NORION, OF TROY, NEW YOR'K.

POSTMAPLK AND CANCELING STAMP.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,175, dated December 16, 1862.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARCUS P. NORTON, of the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New `ork, have invented a new and Improved Postmarking and Canceling Stamp; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the construction and operation thereof, reference being hereby had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which make a part of this specification.

Like letters represent and refer to like or corresponding parts.

Figure l is a side elevation of the stamp and letter-frank canceling device. Fig. 2 is a vertical section lengthwise through thecenter of the various parts of the postmarking and canceling stamp. Fig. 3 is a face view sho wing the postmarkingstamp ready for use, and the construction of the canceling stamp or device, more fully described hereinafter.

The nature of my improvements consists in so constructing canceling-stamps that the same shall cut the postage-stam por any stamp similar thereto without injury to the contents of the envelope or packet inclosed therein, and at the same time cause a heavy circular mark upon the inside and one upon the outside of that part of the stamp or letter-frank canceled by the cutting device, so that said postage-stamp or letter-frank shall readily show cancellation in ink, and when removed from the letter or packet on which the saine may have been canceled it shall be reduced to parts or pieces, whereby a second use of the saidstamp or frank is thus prevented, although it may have been previously cleaned by a chemical or other process.

i It also consists in the employment and combination of a canceling-stamp with a cutting and inkin g device thereon, with a postmarking or rating stamp, so that the canceling of the letter-frank and the postmarking on the envelope or packet shall be effectually done by the means fully described hereinafter.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention relates to make and use the same, Iwill here proceed tol describe the construction and operation thereof, which is as follows, to wit:

I construct the postmarking-stamp D of steel or any material which will answer the purpose. G is the mortise or opening to receive the type for the month, the day of the month, and the year, around which is the name of the place where used. E is a screw for the purpose of holding the type in the said opening G. This stamp is secured and iirmly 'ast- 4 same from becoming loose by reason of turn-l ing backward.

I construct the canceling-stamp of steel, of i any size required in diameter and in length, to correspond to and with the postmarking or rating stamp D. On the face of this canceling stamp I construct circular knives or -cutters t' t i, Figs. 2 and 3, which project somewhat below the face of the marking or rating stamp D, Fig. 2, so as to give a somewhat harder impression and in advance of that given by the said stamp D, whereby the postage-stamp or frank upon which the saine is used is cut through, and at the same time make the broad dark lines o o on the inside, and the broad dark circular lines e e on the outside thereof, and which said circularlines are seen at Fig. 3. That part of this canceling-stamp which makes the said circular lines o and e, Figs. 2 and 3, is made somewhat below the surface or the immediate edge of the said knives or cutters i, and serves as guides to prevent the said knives or cutters from cutting through the postage-stamp or frank and the envelope containing the same, whereby injury to the letter or contents within the envelope or packet is prevented, and at the same time makes the aforesaid heavy or dark lines o and e, Fig. 3, so as to show cancellation more readily.

b b, Fig. 3, are grooves or channels cut across the face of the said cancelingstamp C,

' so as to leave a corresponding part of the letter stamp or frank in condition without being cnt orinked. The said knives or cutters may be made on a straight line across the face of the canceling-stamp G, instead of a circular orm, in which event heavy guards or guides will be constructed upon each side thereof, so as to prevent the said knives or cutters from cutting too deep, and thereby injure the letter or contents thereof inclosed within the envelope containing the postage stamp, while at the same time a heavy line or mark in ink may be given upon the said postage-stamp, thereby showing the cancellation readily. Any number required of the said knives or cutters may be used for cutting the said postagestamp. The canceling-stamp C may be of any size or diameter desired. The guards thereon to prevent the said knives or cutters from cutting too much and from injuring any letter or any contents therein may be of any form or shape deemed best, so long as the object and result desired by this canceling-stamp are attained. The inner guard or guides may be omitted, if desirable so to do, and the entire face or lower surface ot the said canceling stamp may be bevel, instead of convex or oval, which will in no wise change the character of the invention or device-to wit, the knives or cutters and a guard or guards, in combination with each other, for the purposes aforesaid.

The cross-piece B is made of iron or steel, and in width the saine as the diameter of the said rating and canceling stamp, and ot' any thickness required. The said canceling-stamp (l is securt 1y fastened to the said cross-piece B, and at any desired distance from the said rating-stamp D, as seen at Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and in the same manner as that of the said stamp D.

H is a screw bolt or stem, the lower end of which is screwed into the center of the said crosspiece B. The handle A is then screwed upon the said bolt or stem H, and firmly upon the said cross-piece B, thereby making a strong and reliable joining of the handle to the whole stamp.

This stamp, thus constructed or combined, is designed to cancel permanently and successfully postage-stamps on letters or packets in post-oces Without injury to the letter or contents thereof, and thereby prevent the possibility of a second or re use of such postagestamp. It may also be used by banks for the purpose of canceling revenue-stamps upon checks, notes, 85o., and it may be used forcanceling stamps of any kind, whether postage, revenue, or otherwise. It saves great amount of labor in the making up of mails at any post-office, and is a cheap and durable postmarking or rating and canceling stamp.

Having thus described my invention and improvements in postmarking and canceling stamps, what I claim therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

l. The canceling device C, having on the face or lower surface thereof knives or cutters, and a guard or guards, in combination with each other, by means of which the postagestamp is canceled by the said cutters, and at the same time prevent any injury to the letter or any contents therein from the said knives or cutters by means of the said guard or guards, substantially as herein described and set forth.

2. The combination'of the cancelingstamp C and the postmarkin g or rating stamp D with the cross-piece B, substanally as and for the purposes herein described and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have, on this 7th day of October, 1862, hereunto set my hand.

MARCUS P. NORTON. Witnesses:

FRANKLIN Soo'i'r, JNO. H. McCHEsNEY. 

